Police in Norfolk, Virginia, shot and killed a woman Saturday who was brandishing what turned out to be a fake gun.
Investigators with the Norfolk Police Department came upon an argument involving at least one man and one woman just after 1 a.m. ET. They saw the woman threaten the unarmed man with what looked to be a handgun, police said.
An investigation later revealed that the weapon the woman had was a nonfiring replica firearm.
The officers said they gave verbal commands, which the woman ignored. They fired their service weapons after the woman “made a threatening motion with the handgun,” according to police.
The woman, identified as 25-year-old India M. Beaty, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Any loss of life is tragic,” Norfolk Police Chief Michael said Saturday. “This morning’s events affect not only my officers and Ms. Beaty’s family members, but our entire community. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Beaty’s loved ones and we appreciate the public’s patience as we continue this investigation.”
The investigators who fired their weapons have not been identified. Both have been placed on administrative duty pending the results of an investigation, as per policy.
